World Mission Sunday Update: Mongolia

An encounter with Christ living in His Church

20 October is World Mission Sunday. It’s the one day in the year when the entire global Church comes together to support mission. What a great opportunity for all of us to reflect on and pray for the Church’s missionary work! During this time, we honour the brave and selfless women and men already making a huge difference in the world’s poorest communities. And with the whole Church we can appreciate that, in our rapidly changing world, we need the Gospel more than ever.

In the first week of Extraordinary Month of Mission (EMM2019), Catholics commit to reawakening a personal encounter with Jesus Christ living in his Church. Through prayer and action, we seek a deeper relationship with Jesus; the chance to increase our faith through service to others.

Bringing the warmth of Christ to a harsh climate

For World Mission Sunday in 2015, Missio shared with you about the work of the Church in Mongolia – the world’s youngest Catholic Church. We told how, in 1992, Fr Wenceslao ‘Wens’ Padilla packed the warmest clothes he had and set off from his home country of the Philippines for the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. His mission was to share God’s love with the people living in one of the harshest climates in the world, following the collapse of Communism.

Sadly, Bishop Wens has since passed away. But thanks to your support, he’s left a beautiful legacy. As well as a care centre for children who were homeless, schools, clinics, and training centres for vocational skills, Mongolia now has its first local priest – Fr Joseph Enkh Baatar.

Spreading the Good News

Ordained in 2016, Fr Joseph is currently working as an Assistant Parish Priest at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar.

He recently shared: ‘I would like to give my gratitude to all of you who are helping and supporting pastoral activities, Churches and those who are in need in different countries… especially us, a small infant church, here in Mongolia. Thank you so much for your donations, for your support, for your prayers and love.’

With help from Missio, local catechists and missionaries from all over the world are reaching out. They’re sharing the Catholic faith with the Mongolian people in a way that’s relevant and meaningful to their own culture. Every year, more and more Mongolians hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, and welcome Jesus into their lives. When asked about his faith, Dominic, a young Mongolian man explained:

‘The teaching of Jesus brings me happiness. Jesus is very close to me. When I pray, I feel very happy and at peace. I thank God for the missionary Sisters who told me of God’s love.’

Your support brings more and more people into a direct encounter with Jesus Christ. Thank you for everything you do! And please help us reach out to more people in need>>